Blog by Jane Fraser
President of the Stuttering Foundation
Nov. 2, 2026

What a wonderful October! 

International Stuttering Awareness Day on October 22 gave us an opportunity to listen, learn and remind people who stutter that they are not alone. Conversations took place across borders and languages that brought renewed attention to the importance of understanding, research and support.

In Lima, Peru, thanks to board member Tom Scharstein, the Stuttering Foundation participated in StutterFEST Perú, where Spanish-speaking people who stutter gathered to learn, share experiences and build friendships. We provided Spanish-language books and brochures for participants at what organizers described as the first international Spanish-language stuttering support conference.

The Foundation also participated in the second international stuttering and self-help symposium in Istanbul, Türkiye, where people who stutter, advocates and professionals came together to share experiences and learn from one another. We are grateful for Tom Scharstein for representing us in Istanbul last month.

Elsewhere, people in Belgium shared personal stories challenging misconceptions about stuttering. In Ghana, advocates called for greater understanding and inclusion. And in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, an awareness event gave people who stutter and their families an opportunity to speak openly about their experiences.

In the United Arab Emirates, The National featured advocate Farah Al Qaissieh’s plans for a stuttering support centre in Abu Dhabi. Her vision would bring speech therapists and psychologists together to support individuals and families while encouraging inclusion in schools and workplaces. Her community-building efforts carry a familiar and powerful message: no one should have to feel alone.

Here in the United States, The New York Times brought welcome attention to stuttering research and the experiences of people who stutter. Journalist Jack Tamisiea, who stutters, added an important personal perspective to his reporting.

In my letter to the Times, I emphasized a belief that has long guided the Stuttering Foundation: one size does not fit all. People who stutter deserve to be heard and supported in the goals they choose for themselves, with access to trustworthy information and thoughtfully considered options.

As we approach the Foundation’s 80th anniversary in 2027, I think of my father, Malcolm Fraser, who founded the organization in 1947 to help others who stutter. His belief in the power of reliable information and understanding continues to guide us.

As the world’s leading resource on stuttering, we are proud to support people and families around the globe. Our anniversary theme, “80 Years, 80 Voices,” celebrates the many experiences that have shaped this work and the voices that will carry it forward.

The energy we have seen this October is heartening. Let us carry it into the months and years ahead by listening with patience, sharing knowledge and making room for every voice.